Shirley Temple looks over the shoulder of a young Roger Cain in “2visions,” an exhibit of photographs and illustrations currently on display at the Covenant House Creative Gallery in downtown Charleston.

“That seems to be a favorite,” said Jeff Pierson, the Charleston artist who put together the exhibit. “He’s so serious — I don’t know why. It’s a comical situation.”

Pierson organized “2visions” as a tribute to Cain, his uncle, who died of AIDS in 1996. Cain took most of the photographs in the exhibit, while Pierson produced all of the illustrations.

“My stuff is so secondary,” Pierson said. “The show is not to mourn his death, it’s to celebrate his life and what he left behind.”

Cain lived in Charleston’s East End and worked for various nonprofit agencies. He promoted AIDS awareness through public speaking engagements and helped out at a group home for people living with HIV and AIDS. Pierson said that Covenant House, which actively supports AIDS causes, seemed like the perfect place to feature his photographs. “They belong here more than anything.”

Cain took hundreds of photographs between 1970 and 1995. His nephew went through all of the negatives and slides to choose a handful for the “2visions” exhibit.

The result, a mixture of black-and-white and color prints, details the humanity of Cain’s work: a young woman in a white dress posing with her hand on a dog’s head; another woman sitting backward on a horse; girls sharing secrets at a picnic table. Several portraits feature Greg Miller, a friend of Cain’s who also died of AIDS.

“I wanted to the show to be mostly about people,” said Pierson, exhibitions coordinator at Hurricane’s Museum in the Community. “It feels like you’re really there with the people. It makes you really go back in time. You can tell what’s going on with their lives.”

Pierson’s favorite depicts his uncle Bob sitting in a wheelchair beside a railroad track, smiling up at the camera. “He’s such a great guy. He’s lived for so long with so many difficulties. When I look at this picture, I think of all he’s been through.”

He added that the portrait’s title, “Innocence,” not only applies to his uncle Bob, but also to Cain, Miller and others with AIDS.

“These people were innocent,” he said. “They didn’t have a choice in the matter. They got struck with a disease and there’s nothing they could do.”

Pierson’s portion of the exhibit reflects the profound impact Cain had on him, dating back to the days when the uncle spent hours sketching with his young nephew. Most of Pierson’s subjects are rendered in exquisite detail, much like portraits. “Yellow,” for example, pits the Cowardly Lion against a contemporary urban background complete with taxicab.

An exception to Pierson’s painstaking style is the whimsical, borderline abstract “Polar Bear in a Snowstorm,” a nod to tutoring stints the artist served while attending the Columbus College of Art and Design.

“When a kid doesn’t want to draw, he’ll hand back his paper blank and the teacher will ask him, ‘What is that?’ [The kid replies], ‘It’s a polar bear in a snowstorm.’ “

The most poignant of the acrylic works is “Yesterday/Necklaces,” a delicate rendering of two pieces of jewelry. “It’s the most serious, because that’s one of my uncle’s necklaces,” Pierson said. “It’s grouped with a necklace a friend gave me the day he died.”

A tiny tribute to Cain ties together all of Pierson’s art. “In each one of my pieces, I hide an AIDS ribbon. It’s not always red. I’ve gotten to the point now where I do it without thinking.”

Pierson plans to continue his uncle’s legacy through his next project with Covenant House, a children’s book about living with AIDS.

“We’re going to base it on my relationship with my uncle Roger. We want it to be a book that’s fun to read and entertaining, but at the same time raise some awareness.

“His influence has gotten stronger since he passed away,” Pierson added. “It feels like I’m getting the chance to work with him again.”

Admission to the exhibit is free, with $5 donations in Cain’s name to Covenant House suggested. Call 541-9284 or 344-8053. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Cain’s photographs ($100 to $400) also will go to Covenant House.

To contact staff writer Marina Hendricks, use e-mail or call 348-4881.

IF YOU GO

“2visions,” by Jeff Pierson and Roger Cain runs through July 11 at Covenant House Creative Gallery, 600 Shrewsbury St. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, with a coffeehouse talk 6 p.m. Saturday. Free, with $5 donations in Cain’s name to Covenant House suggested.

Call 541-9284 or 344-8053.

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